Softener dispenser for washing machines



Oct. 13, 1964 c. ZIEGLER 3,152,465

SOFTENER DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 9, 1963 INVEN TOR.

55 Laws C Z/EGLH? HTTOKNEY 3,152,465 SOFTENER DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINES Louis C. Ziegler, Skyline Drive, EnglewoodClllfs, NJ. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,385 .12 Claims. (Cl. 68-207) of operation of the washer.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character defined having adjustable means for mounting on washer components of different sizes.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through the casing of a washer, diagrammatically illustrating an agitator centrally thereof and showing one of my improved dispenser devices mounted on the agitator, the device being shown in side elevation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device detached with parts of the construction broken away and indicating in dotted lines and dot-dash lines two different positions of the valve element of the device.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the valve element detached.

My improved dispenser forming the subject matter of this invention is adapted for use in conjunction with washing machines of various types and kinds employing agitating and spinning components and, to generally portray one adaptation and use, I have shown at one of my devices mounted on an upper cylindrical extension 11 of an agitator 12 of a washing machine, the latter operating in a tub or casing 13 and at 14 is diagrammatically illustrated a closure for the open top of the casing 13.

The dispenser '10 is shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing from which it will appear that an elongated casing 15 is employed, having a storage end 16 and a discharge end 17. The latter end of the casing includes a cover.

Means is employed for adjustably securing the device, for example, in connection with the extension 11 shown in FIG. 1. This means comprises a plurality of gripper arms 19 adjustably fixed to the casing as seen at 20 in FIG. 3. Each of the arms has an elongated aperture 21 to provide radial adjustment required. The terminal ends of the arms have angularly disposed gripper facings 22.

The bottom wall 23 of the casing includes an upwardly extending pivot pin 24 on which a discharge control valve element 25 is movably mounted. The bottom wall also includes a pair of lock or key lugs 26 and a key block 27 having a substantially V-shaped key face 28, note FIG. 2. The bottom wall 23 also includes adjacent the block 27, an elongated discharge aperture 29.

The element 25 comprises an elongated shank 30 having an elongated aperture 31 therein, the aperture 31 being at one end portion of the element, Whereas the other end portion of the element includes an enlarged head 32 having angularly disposed surfaces 33 at the end thereof adapted to engage the key surfaces 28 of the block 27,

United States Patent 0 retaining the element in one of the positions later described.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, the element 25 is shown in full lines in what may be termed the normal starting position of the device, with the aperture end 31 of the shank 30 positioned between the lugs 26 and with the pin 24 at one end of the aperture 31. With the parts in this position, the softener employed is placed in the storage end 16 of the casing. In the first stages of operation of the machine, the agitator 12 is simply reciprocated back and forth as indicated by the double arrow full line 34-, FIG. 2, during the washing or cleaning cycle of the machine. Upon completion of this operation, the machine then automatically goes into a spinning cycle. During this latter cycle of operation, centrifugal force moves the valve element 25 into the dotted line position, FIG. 2, which movement is diagrammatically illustrated by the dotted arrow 35, FIG. 2. The element is held in this position throughout the spinning cycle, and it will be noted that during the first and second stages of operation, the discharge aperture or port 29 is closed by the head 32 of the element.

During the spinning cycle, it will be understood that the softener has been transferred from the storage end 16 to the discharge end 17 of the casing. During the rinsing cycle of the machine which is another reciprocating action, as indicated by the dot-dash arrow 36 of FIG. 2, the element 25 is displaced from the block 27 and moves into the position illustrated in dot-dash lines of FIG. 2, in which position it engages one of the beveled end surfaces 37 of the block 27, retaining the element against movement and fully opening the aperture 29, as will clearly appear in consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawing. During this rinsing cycle, the softener will be discharged into the tub or casing 13.

In reuse of the device, the element 25 will again be manually positioned, as seen in full lines in FIG. 2, and the above cycle of operation completed in the aforesaid movement of the element to the dotted line position and dot-dash position of FIG. 2. The shank 30 of the element moves relatively to the pin 24, the latter forming a pivot on which the element swings in movement into the dot-dash position.

In connection with the above cycles of operation of the washing machine, it will be understood that the agitator 12 and the dispenser arranged thereon have a rest period or cycle immediately after the spinning cycle and preparatory to the performance of the rinsing cycle and the valve element 25 maintains the aperture 29 closed during this rest period. It will also be apparent that, in referring to positioning the softener in the storage end 16 of the casing, this would apply solely to the powdered or granular type of materials. When liquids are employed, they Will naturally extend over the entire bottom wall of the casing 15.

By virtue of the simplicity and economy in the construction of the device, devices of this type and kind can be adapted and used extensively by everyone having washing machines which are not otherwise equipped with automatically actuated means for introducing softeners during the complete cycle of operation of the machine. The present device, in other words, automatically converts Washing machines into what would be equivalent to the machines equipped with the built-in softener dispenser and, accordingly, the operator of an otherwise standardtype of machine does not have to be on hand to apply a softener material to the machine at the particular cycle where introduction of this material is desirable, but can leave the machine for performing its complete function and operation and, in this manner, considerable time is saved by the operator.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A softener dispenser device for washing machines, said device comprising an elongated casing having a discharge end including a discharge aperture, means for mounting the device in connection with a support spinning during the spinning cycle of a Washing machine, a valve element slidably and pivotally mounted in the casing controlling said discharge aperture, said element being slidable to closed position maintaining said aperture closed during the washing, spinning and rest cycles of operation of the machine, means in the casing operatively engaging said element in maintaining the same in closed position during said three cycles of operation of the machine, and said element being automatically moved on its pivot from said closed position into position exposing the discharge aperture of the casing during the rinsing cycle of operation of the machine.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second named means comprises spaced key means in the casing engaged by said element.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said key means comprises a pair of lugs.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said key means comprises a block at the discharge end of the casing, the block having a V-shaped key surface.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said element includes at one end a head covering the discharge aperture of the casing in the first two cycles of operation of the machine.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said element comprises an elongated shank having an elongated aperture at one end portion and an enlarged head at the other end, said elongated aperture engaging a pin in the sliding movement of said element, and the head of said element normally closing the discharge aperture of said casing.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said pin operates in the elongated aperture of said element forming the pivot of said element, and the head of said element operatively engaging means in the casing in support of the element in inoperative position during the rinsing cycle of the operation of the machine.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first named means comprises a plurality of gripper arms adjustably fixed to said casing.

9. A dispensing device of the character defined, comprising an elongated casing having a discharge end, said discharge end having a discharge aperture, means for supporting the casing in connection with a support, a valve element slidably and pivotally mounted in the casing, means retaining said element in a first position normally closing said discharge aperture, said element being slidably moved by centrifugal force into a second position still closing said aperture, key means engaged by said element to retain the same in closed position, said element being then swung on its pivot from the closed position into a third position in reciprocation of said casing to fully open said discharge aperture, and means operatively engaging said element in support of the same in the third position of the element in the casing.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein means is employed operatively engaging said element to support said element for said slidable movement.

11. A softener dispenser device for washing machines, said device comprising an elongated casing having a discharge end including a discharge aperture, means for mounting the device in connection with a support spinning during the spinning cycle of a washing machine, a valve element slidably and pivotally mounted in the casing controlling said discharge aperture, said element having an elongated aperture, means maintaining said element in position closing said discharge aperture in a washing cycle of the machine, said last named means including a pin operating in said elongated aperture, said element being slidably moved by centrifugal force during a spinning cycle of the machine to a closed position engaging key means still maintaining the discharge aperture closed, said valve element and last named means retaining the last named position of the element during a rest period, said element being reciprocated on said pin to move said element from the closed position into a position opening said discharge aperture during a rinsing cycle of the machine, and means retaining the element in said last named position.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said first named means comprises a plurality of gripper arms adjustably fixed to said casing.

Johnston Feb. 7, 1961 Gerhardt Apr. 23, 1963 

9. A DISPENSING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CASING HAVING A DISCHARGE END, SAID DISCHARGE END HAVING A DISCHARGE APERTURE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE CASING IN CONNECTION WITH A SUPPORT, A VALVE ELEMENT SLIDABLY AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN THE CASING, MEANS RETAINING SAID ELEMENT IN A FIRST POSITION NORMALLY CLOSING SAID DISCHARGE APERTURE, SAID ELEMENT BEING SLIDABLY MOVED BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE INTO A SECOND POSITION STILL CLOSING SAID APERTURE, KEY MEANS ENGAGED BY SAID ELEMENT TO RETAIN THE SAME IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID ELEMENT BEING THEN SWUNG ON ITS PIVOT FROM THE CLOSED POSI- 